Every year around 12,000 people die from accidents and millions are injured in accidents relating to fire, traffic and transport, in school, at work, and at home.*
Children are particularly vulnerable to accidents and in 2004 there were almost 2 million reported accidents amongst children between 0-14 years; 882,505 of these accidents took place at home, while 1,095,520 took place in a leisure setting.*
Fires account for hundreds of fatalities every year; in 2004 there were 508 fire related deaths in the UK, of which 41 were children who were under the age of 16.*
In 2004, 28,000 children were hurt in accidents on UK roads, 174 of whom died. 18 of these fatalities were children on their bikes.*
The Royal National Lifeboat Institute reports that more than 8,000 people were rescued by their lifeboats in 2005.
In 2005 there were a total of 5,127 casualties related to the railways, of which 33 were fatal.*
4% of 11-15 year olds use class A drugs, around 25% of 11-15 drink an average of 10 units per week and 9% of 11-15 year olds are smokers. In 2005, 19% of 11-15 year olds were reported to have taken illegal drugs in the last year.*
These statistics only represent part of the problem as they reflect the data actually recorded and it is fair to assume that there are significantly more accidents that are not reported.
*Source: Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA 2006).
- Key statistics relating to children in Kent emphasis the need for a lifeskills centre to be in Kent:
- Kent has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe
- Drug abuse in Kent is estimated to cost £100 million each year
- per cent of the UK’s children in care are located in Kent; the highest number in the UK
- 20.3% of children in Kent and Medway live in lone parent families compared to the national average of 24%, however East Kent has a higher proportion with Thanet the highest with 29.9%
- To reduce the number of people harmed by substance abuse, alcohol misuse, and Internet abuse
- To support the delivery of citizenship education
- To raise awareness of personal safety issues
- To provide a memorable life-changing experience – a route map which leads from learning to confidence, from competence to responsibility, and ultimately to action
At the heart of the Lifeskills Centre is the need to address the issues of citizenship which was introduced to the National Curriculum in 2002 as part of the non–statutory framework at Key Stages 1 and 2 along with PSHE (personal, social and health education); and at Key Stages 3 and 4, as statutory in the non-core subjects of the National Curriculum.
The Kent Lifeskills Centre will address the key issues of citizenship, community involvement, volunteering, partnership, reducing accidents, improving health, workplace learning, and will become the recognised regional centre of excellence in Kent for all matters related to safety, citizenship and lifeskills.
